Poole | Posted on July 20th, 2026 | return to news

Damselfly refurbishment at Poole play area

Themed around large red damselflies, a £140,000 refurbishment of the Bourne Valley play area begins this week.

Work starts this week to upgrade the Bourne Valley play area with a damselfly theme.

The £140,000 refurbishment will deliver inclusive and adventurous play for all ages. The design has been directly shaped by the ideas of local children, young people and families.

Themed around large red damselflies, that can be found in the park, the upgraded space incorporates elements of the natural surroundings into the design and is split into three key zones that encourage different types of play.

A new pendulum swing, rope end swing and a multi-level climbing structure encourages slightly older adventurers to explore and test their skills.

For younger visitors, there is a toddler and inclusive zone which will include slides, swings, interactive and sensory play equipment, as well as lower-level climbing equipment and wheelchair-friendly play.

Cllr Andy Hadley, BCP Council’s portfolio holder for Parks, said: “Bourne Valley is a remarkable green space and home to some stunning species – so it’s only right that this was reflected in the final design for the play area.

“These upgrades are a significant investment in the play offering for local children and young people and will deliver a more inclusive, exciting, and adventurous play area as a result.”

The work is expected to take around six weeks before an official re-opening and is the latest in a raft of refurbishment projects helping to put play back at the heart of communities.

Funding for the improvements comes from BCP Council’s Plan for Play strategy and £19,000 of lottery funding that has been contributed by Bourne Big Local.

Major upgrades have already taken place at Treasure Island and Queen’s Park whilst new equipment, repairs, and improvements have been made at more than a dozen additional sites.

Over the next few months more full-scale refurbishments will take place at priority sites including Mallard Road, Muscliff Rec, Noyce Gardens, King’s Park, Hamworthy Park – and plenty more.

Cllr Sandra Moore, BCP Council’s portfolio holder for Play Strategy, said: “Being able to deliver these improvements and make our play areas fit for the future is precisely why Plan for Play is so important.

“I’m really excited, and proud, that community feedback lays at the heart of these refurbs – because that’s how we know they’ll be well-loved and well-used long into the future.”

BCP Council is investing more than £4.6million into around 120 play areas across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole as part of the multi-year Plan for Play strategy.

The initial £3.9million allocation has been boosted by external grants, CIL allocations, and ward improvement funding.

As well as major refurbishments, new equipment will be installed at dozens of new sites including Slades Farm, Seafield Road, and Bournemouth’s central gardens.